OK guys, I went to see a surgeon today and he suggested a spinal fusion. I know what a spinal fusion is so I dont need that explained. What I want to know is if you have had one for your back pain and do you think it is worth it? They gave me about a 70% success rate. I am supposed to think about it over the next 6-8 weeks and get back to the surgeon. I'm just not sure if I want to go this route so I'd like some personal opinions from people who have had it done for low back pain. I have disc degenration and a herniation at L5-S1 with some facet arthritis (which will not be helped at all by a fusion) so I already know it will not releive ALL my pain. I sure think it would be nice to be able to live and function on no pain pills other than an occasional OTC or light pain pill. So if you have had a spinal fusion could you tell me if you think it is worth it and would you recommend someone to do it for low back pain?
Spinal fusion - was it worth it for your back pain?
Question posted by DzooBaby on 16 Aug 2011
Last updated on 5 January 2020 by Chicken parm
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
41 Answers Page 2
I had disc fusion in 2011 at two levels, L3-L4 and L4-L5 with rods & screws and bone grafts taken from my hip. The recovery & extensive physical therapy is very painful & grueling. It's been 5 years (2016) now, since my surgery and I feel worse than before. I'm in constant pain, have difficulty walking, climbing stairs, even sleeping is horrible. I have burning pain that goes down my leg into my toes, which affects my driving (which is now very limited). I wish I never did this lumbar disc fusion. I have always been very independent, doing everything for myself. Unfortunately, this changed right after my disc fusion. If I had to do it over again, I would NOT have done this surgery. The pain I had prior to my surgery was somewhat tolerable and I continued to work. But after this disc surgery, my life dramatically changed and not for the better. To anyone thinking of having lumbar disc fusion ... think twice ... get 3, 4, or 5 medical opinions. Because once you have the surgery, you can't go back.
Dzoo,
I haven't had a spinal fusion, but I've had some indirect things done to me which may be of benefit to you. Re. my back: All of my lumbar discs are prolapsed. None of the root nerves are seriously compressed, but two of them are touching discs. I also have stenosis in three areas. Three neurosurgeons would not recommend surgery, such as a fusion, because the nerve roots weren't considered to be compressed enough. Nonetheless, the pain usually is moderate to severe and was diagnosed in aggregate as bilateral sciatica.
I did have two nerve neurostimulators installed in my spine with the controllers buried in a thin layer of belly fat towards my right side. I was told beforehand that I had a 70% probability of reducing my direct and radicular pain by using electricity from the stimulators to mask the pain coming from the pain. Neither worked for me and I intend to have the surgeon remove as much of the equipment and wiring as is possible. Since then, 2011 and 2013 surgeries, I had my left hip go bad. It was a genetic issue where the ball and socket didn't fit properly and it wore off all of the cartilage surrounding the hip joint. My mobility and ability to walk are reasonably good now, but I was left with complex regional pain syndrome surrounding my groin, buttock, left side and upper thigh. Three specialists examined me and none of them could find the root cause. This complex pain puts my back pain to shame as far as pain goes. It never drops below lower severe pain and at times it is unquestionably a solid severe. I couldn't do physical therapy for a time but the overall pain eased a bit over time and I slowly began to regain some overall movement with slightly less pain. And I'm still pursuing that therapy.
I've had surgery many times before in other parts of my body and generally had satisfactory results. But every time they (the surgeons) operate on or near my back, results have not been good. Just as with a fusion, I was told the neurostimulator had a 70% chance of working but no one has ever gone into the hip area so there's no estimate there of success. In spite of the crummy results, given the degree of pain I had, the early mediocre physical therapy results and no improvement, I'd do it again. But I would like to know where the doctors get their surgery success information from. My choices in situations like mine and yours is to try to pick the option that won't make things any worse. It usually works, but it failed miserably on the complex hip pain.
Currently I'm working with a physical therapist who specializes in nerve pain, 6 months and counting, and I do have some good news to report. With the severe complex regional hip pain, the groin and buttock pain have been resolved so I plan to continue with therapy. I know this is an answer that's of little help to you and I'm sorry for that. It's just that unlike broken bones and other relatively simple surgery options, success seems to dwindle once your body is failing in the back and some of the lower joints.
In closing, I do have some renewed faith in physical therapy since I have proof of improvement even though it[s minor. If I had access to an osteopath, I'd see him/her before a PT because my experience with those professionals is very good. They can do near miracles with a combination of exercise and manipulating the body with their hands. Sorry I couldn't offer you a better answer.
DzooBaby - Had L4-L5-S1 Surgery July 14-15, 2014. I left hell and battle every day for a happy medium of meds / side affects / functionality. Yes I am glad I did it - It was a successful fusion. I made it back to work because I had to 3 1/2 months after. Complete hell. 2 years later, I am still working... chronic pain and pain management issues are part of life... I am still on meds to be functional ... don't need more... but can't work or function on less... Advice... wait until you are tired of living the way you are before you cross over to fusion. I empathize with your situation and pray for best outcomes for you... - big chef
No the spinal fusion, was not a succe. It has been over two years and I am in so much pain. I can not stand, walk, sit, for a long time at all. I am on pain pills it effect my social life with my family and my husband of 25 years. This year 2016, we has a church wedding, beacause we never has one and I could not even walk or stand for a long time due to the really really chronic pain in my back, hips, and legs.
So if you are thinking about having this surgery please do not. Also my doctor now wants me to try and get some injection in my to see if it will help with the pain.
Hi there buddy I had the same surgery 2 years ago and since then I still have a lot of pain
The fusion was a total success and relieved the really bad pai that would have me on my knees crying but residual pain is a possibility in fact I am disabled because of it and had a spinal cord stimulator implanted in me today to try give me some kind of life quality
Putting all that aside my surgeon was excellent a very caring person and did his best with the damage done to me. He is a surgeon out of Long Island ny with an office in city too my procedure was done at langone in city. As far as I know you gotta be good to use that facility. Give me a buzz if you wanna talk I can ease your mind and explain some things if you want
Craig. 347-221-4011. Best of luck to you. Oh btw getting the op is so worth it to get off the pills I've been there it's hell
Dzoobaby, did you ever have the surgery?
No I did not. as long as my pain meds are working some and I can still get them, I am going to wait on surgery. It is just too much of a gamble and I am not desperate enough to chance it yet. Maybe someday but most people have talked to say surgery worked well in the beginning but then got worse after a few years and too many people have told me NOT to do it-that it could make me worse with the scar tissue and cutting muscle and bone.
This response is too late for the above inquirer. I had a spinal fusion in 2006 and was permanently crippled from this and now have to use a cane. I also developed neuropathy in my left leg and have bouts of sciatica. I will always regret this surgery. My back problems before surgery were nothing compared to the pain I am in every day. I also developed high blood pressure after this surgery which I never had. I am a full-time caregiver to my mentally retarded daughter and this surgery ruined my life.
Hi, I had the fusion on L3,4,5. I'm in so much pain because the disks above and below have been compromised as a result of the fusion. I wish I had not done it. Do some searching before you do this, I was 5 months in therapy, the healing was long and very painful. The result was not what I truly expected. Good luck everyone.
I personally would think long and hard about it. I had a spinal fusion from T10 thru S1... a year ago in June. I have 46 screws and anchors in pelvis and hips. I am in more pain than one can imagine.. they now have to put a morphine pain pump in - if they can reach the spinal cord. Mine was a bit more extensive than what they need to do to you. but I would still think about it. I have taken ever pain medication possible yet I am in pain 24/7.
If you have anymore questions, please feel free to ask. I hope this helps some!
If I had known beforehand that my spinal fusion of L4 & L5 on November 20, 2012 would lead to this excrutiatingl pain in my right hip and both sides of my pelvis... No, absolutely not!! Although I can lift my drop foot off the ground a little now, I have found my recovery going backwards instead of any improvement. I had more mobility and less pain prior to surgery, going up the stairs, turning over in bed, walking, standing, I want to scream out in pain. I'm taking 1/2 tab of Hydrocodone/ Acetaminophen 10-500 4 times a day and 5mg Zolpidem to sleep, waking up to this pain and hardly able to move...
I would say don't do it!!!
My father had his first fusion back in 2007. He was an active guy that just so happen to beat his body up. Since then he has had 8 back surgery. He is about to undergo c3-c7 fusion in a couple weeks. His quality of life diminished rapidly. My only advice is if you undergo surgery . Rehab rehab rehab. Keep your weight maintained at a healthy level. Stay away from Opioids. My personal opinion , especially if it is low back pain is to stay away from getting cut open.
Hi DzooB, I know you want to hear from some one that has had it done, I am bending the rules a bit. Do you have a foot drop or bladder or bowel problems? Different doctors have different success rates as you know. I am sure you are going to use a neurosurgeon to do this procedure. I Had a "Pars" fracture L5-S1 with a foot drop of my right foot. Two different neuro doctors wanted to operate asap. an old radiologist I know looked at my CT and told me to just wait it out, just had spinal fluid pressing on those nerves. (Again this is off subject Sorry).. Is there any way to check this doctors results? I know it will vary from PT to PT. I used to assist a neuro surgeon @ A hospital here in Austin from time to time, on a private basis. It seemed to me that people with multiple levels being done, had the poorest outcome. As you know people with degenerative bone disease don't get better.
If he is able to remove a big portion of that herniated disc, and fuse with your own bone you may be surprised. ((I feel guilty answering your question)) Because I cannot say anything of great importance to you, that you don't already know. I just wanted to show my support for you? That's a tough decision to make,I will be praying for you! Lv
I'm sorry to rain on your parade, but my experience with spinal fusion was absolutely NOT a successful one. My Oma (Grandma in German, she raised us while my Mom taught elementary school & we called her Oma), had spinal fusion after years of unrelenting back pain. She used to sleep on a board, the floor, not at all. She would cry out from all the pain she was experiencing. I don't know if she was taking medication, I never asked. She had the surgery done & was a practically a cripple afterwards. Her pain was not helped, in fact she believed that it made it all the worse.
Now here I am, with chronic back problems & more herniated disks than I can count. I've had every procedure they wanted to try, including those surgical implants (which did NOTHING for me & I had them removed). However, after seeing Oma's experience & hearing of others, I would rather take pain medication than EVER take a chance on going through a worse hell than I already am.
I'm sorry, I didn't notice your age. Mine is 48, so I have way too many years left to risk having a surgery that could practically cripple me. I think you'll have to take into account your age, your pain level, how well your medications help & whether you need to have them adjusted or changed. You might also want to get a second/third opinion about this procedure in your situation, as well as the treatment that you are receiving from your current doctor.
Everyone is different, but in my life experience (including 4 surgeries on my left arm & shoulder-of which I had no choice) in addition to my chronic back problems, I am very wary of serious and IRREVERSIBLE surgeries. Surgeries that are really no more than the flipping of a coin-some feel better afterwards & others are crippled by them.
Take a good look at your symptoms & how much you can handle. Take a good look at other remedies, including acupuncture, physical therapies, massage, injections, etc.
Talk to as many people as you can, like me & others both on & off line. Talk to as many doctors as you can who will SIT DOWN with you & go over your MRI's & other test results.
THEN, sit down & talk with your family to discuss the pros & cons, before you make what could be a life-changing decision.
Good luck with whatever you decide & feel free to let us know how everything is going!
David
I'm pretty much leaning towards NOT doing it. It seems that more people who have had it done are worse than before they started. This surgeon is a second surgeon who has said a fusion may help. I think as long as pain meds are working I'm going to hold off. I am planning to try a brace for extra stability and see how that goes. Thanks for the info-it was very helpful! It is always better knowing what something is in real life than what they say it will do in literature.
I am 5 months post op from a C-5/C-6 anterior cervical fusion and a little over 1 month post op from an L-5/S-1 anterior lumbar fusion. I am 33 years old and for me, there was no way I could continue life without having the surgeries. I highly recommend doing the anterior approach if the fusion surgery you need is for your low back, and if you can be a candidate for that route of surgery. The anterior approach saves your back muscles from being cut and destroyed and you will have a much faster recovery with an anterior approach. I was up and walking the day of surgery if that tells you anything. They go through your abdomen instead, and you will have a C-section like scar. You can find animated You Tube videos on this approach, if your Dr. has not already discussed this option for you.
I can say that there are days that I do notice a difference, but it is a slow recovery process for sure. It is very hard to not "lift, bend, or twist", or limit what you lift to only 10lbs, especially if your female and are the sole care taker of the daily house hold chores. Dishes still need to be done, laundry still needs to be cleaned, trash needs to be taken out, carpets still need to be vacuumed, and my cat weighs 14lbs! So, with that said, there are days I feel better and I am quick to go back into my regular routine prior to my injuries, but I am reminded by the pain that I am still very limited. These simple house hold activities can set me back 3 days to where I am unable to function at all, and just taking a shower is a task in itself. I am still far from being able to return to work full time in combination with just maintaining the basic tasks of living.
While this may sound discouraging, I guess the positive message in this is that THERE ARE days that i feel good and readily go back into my daily routine as i did prior to my injuries. Prior to my surgeries, there wasn't a day I didn't drop the "F" bomb for every task I had to do, even the simple ones like just putting on my shoes. Life was miserable and it has been a long time since the little things haven't been so difficult for me to do. While I'm not there yet, I do have hope that I will get my life back because of those days that I do feel good.
It's a long recovery and patience is key. Make arrangements for people to help you when you return home from the surgery. Make sure your family/friends understands your injury, the surgery, and the recovery.
This surgery is not a festival for sure, and recovery is difficult not only physically, but mentally too. Being off work and staying at home to recover is tough to go through as life continues to go on for everybody else. It's hard to be dependent on others to get you what you need. People have a hard time understanding pain they cannot see, so that in itself can be a lonely feeling. For me the depression got so bad that I discontinued the cable because the media annoyed me so much. You definitely get a new perspective on things when you have mounts of hours to do nothing but think, and see, and process everything that is going on that easily is overlooked when your caught up in normal life with work, family, ect.
Anyhoo... I'm not sure if any of this helps you or not, but I thought you might like to hear from someone who is in the middle of recovery so you get a idea of what lies ahead, physically and emotionally. Overall I would say that the fusion surgery was necessary if I wanted to get my life back, and return to work so that I can continue to reach for my dreams. There are days when I feel that hope again... and I lost that a long time ago. It's a very welcoming feeling to have again.
As far as pain management goes from this point forward is still a question for me. I have no idea if I'll ever be free from medications because of the spinal cord damage. The Dr.'s cannot say how long it will take for the spinal cord to heal and the nerves to re-grow, if it will at all. My situation may be a little different in that the C-5/C-6 fusion was necessary to maintain stability, and not so much to relieve the pain. If I didn't have the surgery, I would be left walking around, an accident away from becoming a paraplegic. Pain management will be different for everyone as each injury is unique in the degree of damage, deterioration, ect. Only a fool would promise that you can be 100% free from pain if you have this surgery, as no one can really say for sure how your body will react and adjust to the invasion of this surgery.
Good luck to you in what ever you chose to do. Everyone deserves quality of life and I hope you can find your way back to living with quality again soon.
Hugs and High Fives,
-Carrie
Your answer was very helpful-sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you! You and I sound a lot alike. I dont feel like my home support system is all that great. My husband doesnt believe my pain is as bad as it is and he doesnt want me to do the surgery. I'm still not sure even after all this time. He has given me several months to think about it and I'm leaning towards waiting. he is talking about an anterior approach which I'm not crazy about. I've heard from a few people that this surgeon is really good but I'm just not sure that I'm ready. I am thinking of trying a back brace first. If it is truly instability needing a fusion then a brace should provide some relief and if it does and I decide I want that stability "built in" then I can go for the surgery.
He wants me to reduce way down on my pain meds prior to the surgery which I'm not sure I could do-like you say there is still things that have to get done! Anyway, thanks for your time in answering. It was very helpful and gives me good perspective and things to think about. :)
i have had 1 fusion-bone from my hip used and later i had a plate put in. these were in the C area of my neck. i do need work done on my L3-4-5; but i am not ready to go thru all this again. the fusion was done thru the front and the plate thru the back. IMHO other than saving me from the possiblilty of becoming a quad; this was all for nothing. both times i got cut on my pain levels increased and i started getting pain in areas that i never had before. i get my medical thru the V.A. and my pain management is horrible. I do have friends that have had these operations right away and ive seen immediate success; i imagine the length of time for these injuries (age) is a big factor on any operation such as these as far as the ACTUAL success rate. it used to be that when you had a lower back or whatever they had to be done again in 5-6 years or so. i believe that is no longer the case.
since i am a male i would give up both of my jewels to go a day with out pain or headaches. its not in the cards i guess ; my problem is only certain pain meds work for me with out having to overdose.i have been on them all to include muscle relaxers, relaxers dont help my spasms and the best pain pill for my headaches seems to be tylonal -4. but i am only allowed 4 a day and when your pain scale is 10 or higher that does you no good. i have been on morphine and the t-4 but after 21/2 years i took myself off the morphine because off the dangers. my actual advise to you is a 2nd opinion, have a GOOD surgeon do the work butbefor ethe op insure they will take care of your pain instead of playing the VA game. ONE more thing remember pain causes depression and the longer your in pain the harder depression hits. my best to you and may God guide the blade. merc
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